1. …and Basic Forms of Government
What is Government?
…and Basic Forms of Government

2. Government makes & enforces “public policy”
Legislative Power: create laws and policies
Executive Power: enforce & administer laws and policies
Judicial Power: interpret laws and policies & settle disputes

3. What is a “Constitution?”
“…the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government”

4. Dictatorship vs. Democracy
All three powers held by one person or small group
Separation of powers with the people (demos) holding ultimate authority

5. Politics
All governments exist to carry out the process “by which a society decides how power and resources will be distributed…”
Aristotle wrote a book entitled Politics, which translates to “affairs of the cities”

6. States
Generally speaking, states carry out politics through governments
“State” is usually defined as “a body of people, living in a defined territory, with a government that has the sovereign power to make and enforce law”
In modern English, the words “country” and “nation” are often used synonymously with state (confusing in US with our 50 states… Articles of Confederation…)
There are currently 193 UN member states
China is largest (1.38 billion) while Vatican City is smallest (1,000)

7. Disputed States & “Failed” States

8. Four characteristics of a state
1. Population
-can be a “nation-state” or a “multi-ethnic-state”
2. Territory
-Russia is world’s largest (6.6 million square miles; USA is 3.8 million)
3. Sovereignty
-clearly not all states are equally, fully sovereign, right?
4. Government
-anarchy?

9. Theories on the Origins of Government…

10. Force Theory

11. Evolutionary Theory

12. Divine Right Theory

13. Social Contract Theory
Thomas Hobbes: without a government… “life of man solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” (any government is better than risk of anarchy)
John Locke: “The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings, capable of laws, where there is no law there is no freedom.” (Life, Liberty, Property)
Jean Jacques Rousseau: “Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains” (small communities with direct democracy are best)

15. Purposes of Government

16. Form a “More Perfect Union”
-The thirteen new American States started with the “Articles of Confederation” in 1781
-This “firm league of friendship” among the states was “neither firm nor friendly”
-Our Constitution (effective 1789) was designed to improve and unify the people and their respective states

17. Establish Justice -Law that is “reasonable, fair, and impartial”
-Obviously an evolving set of standards, no?

18. Insure (Ensure?) Domestic Tranquility
-Unless one is a devoted anarchist, it seems necessary to have government to keep the peace

20. Provide for the Common Defense
-Could small, local groups do this?
-Native American experience?
-Guerilla conflicts?

21. Promote the General Welfare
-Public Schools
-Public Roads
-Air, Water, Food Safety
-Others??

22. Secure the Blessings of Liberty
-From the beginning of this country’s history, freedom has been seen as perhaps the most precious gift to be “secured”
-obviously hypocritical by today’s standards, no?

23. Types of Democracy DIRECT DEMOCRACY REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
Probably possible only in very small communities (why?)
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
Agents of the people are chosen to carry out the people’s will

24. Features of Dictatorship
-Can either be “limited” or “totalitarian”
-Think China vs N. Korea
-Often “pretend” to be democratic with deceptive titles, elections, constitutions etc…

25. Geographic Distribution of Power

26. Unitary vs. Federal vs. Confederate
Unitary; UK; all power held by single body (Parliament), though it may delegate some responsibilities as it sees fit
Federal; USA; power split between national and local governments
Confederation; EU; alliance of independent governments

27. Presidential vs Parliamentary Gov’ts
Presidential system has separate, coequal executive and legislative branches
Parliamentary system has the legislature choose the executive from among themselves